Jay Leno sure knows how to make an entrance (and exit). At this past weekend’s Art Center Design event for Automotive Design, Jay turned heads has he parked his GM Ecojet concept car on campus. The car has a 650-horsepower (400 lb.-ft. of torque) powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel. The engine sits in a modified Corvette Z06 hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. The vehicle’s shell is an advanced construction of carbon fiber over Kevlar.

While I didn’t see it come in, I was next to the Ecojet departed the event after Jay emceed the life-time achievement award to Ron Hill, one of the creative guru at GM back in day. After climbing over the significant door sill, he secured the three point seat harness (with a little help). Next, Jay spooled the motor up for a minute with a large puff of smoke over the back, as the jet screamed to life. It doesn’t win any prizes for being noise-efficient, but it was certainly an attention-getter; probably what Jay (and GM) had in mind. It was great fun to be there to see this one off vehicle.